Mode information conversion device, image forming device and image forming system

Abstract

A mode information conversion device connected to a terminal and an image forming device which performs a printing operation. The mode information conversion device including a unit for receiving first mode information transmitted from the terminal, in which a user request to the image forming device is reflected; a unit for acquiring second mode information to be peculiarly used in the image forming device; a unit for registering the first and second mode information so as to be previously related to each other; a unit for converting the first mode information to the second mode information by reading the second mode information related to the first mode information on the mode information registering unit upon receiving the first mode information; and a unit for transmitting the second mode information acquired by conversion to the image forming device which is a print output destination based on the user request.

1. A mode information conversion device connected to a terminal and an image forming device which performs a printing operation based on predetermined job data such that data can be transmitted and received among them, comprising:
 a first receiving unit for receiving first mode information transmitted from the terminal, in which a user request to the image forming device is reflected; 
 an acquiring unit for acquiring second mode information to be peculiarly used in the image forming device; 
 a mode information registering unit for registering the first and second mode information so as to be previously related to each other; 
 a first mode information converting unit for converting the first mode information to the second mode information by reading the second mode information related to the first mode information on the mode information registering unit when the first mode information is received; and 
 a first transmitting unit for transmitting the second mode information acquired by conversion of the first mode information to the image forming device which is a print output destination based on the user request. 
 
   
   
     2. The mode information conversion device according to  claim 1 , wherein the mode information registering unit registers the second mode information peculiar to each of the plurality of image forming devices respectively, so as to be related to the first mode information. 
   
   
     3. The mode information conversion device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second receiving unit for receiving the second mode information transmitted from the image forming device when a state which cannot carry out a user request regarding the second mode information in the image forming device occurs; 
 a second mode information converting unit for converting the second mode information to the first mode information by reading the first mode information related to the second mode information on the registering unit when the second mode information is received; and 
 a second transmitting unit for transmitting the first mode information acquired by conversion of the first mode information to the terminal. 
 
   
   
     4. The mode information conversion device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second mode information comprise information for specifying a sheet type. 
   
   
     5. The mode information conversion device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second mode information comprise information for specifying a sheet size. 
   
   
     6. The mode information conversion device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second mode information comprises information for specifying a function setting condition to be used in the image forming device. 
   
   
     7. An image forming device connected to a terminal such that data can be transmitted and received between them and performing a printing operation based on predetermined job data, wherein the mode information conversion device according to  claim 1  is constituted as a part of the image forming device. 
   
   
     8. An image forming system in which a terminal and an image forming device which performs a printing operation based on predetermined job data are connected to each other such that data can be transmitted and received among them, said image forming system is provided with a mode information conversion device comprising:
 a first receiving unit for receiving first mode information transmitted from the terminal, in which a user request to the image forming device is reflected; 
 an acquiring unit for acquiring second mode information to be peculiarly used in the image forming device; 
 a mode information registering unit for registering the first and second mode information so as to be previously related to each other; 
 a first mode information converting unit for converting the first mode information to the second mode information by reading the second mode information related to the first mode information on the mode information registering unit when the first mode information is received; and 
 a first transmitting unit for transmitting the second mode information acquired by conversion of the first mode information to the image forming device which is a print output destination based on the user request. 
 
   
   
     9. The image forming system according to  claim 8 , wherein image forming devices are connected to the terminal and the mode information conversion device such that data can be transmitted and received among them, and the terminal comprises setting unit for setting the plurality of image forming devices as print output destinations, and
 the mode information conversion device converts the first mode information received from the terminal to the plurality of second mode information related to the first mode information, when the plurality of image forming devices are set by the terminal as the print output destinations, and transmits the second mode information to the plurality of image forming devices as the print output destinations. 
 
   
   
     10. The image forming system according to  claim 8 , wherein the mode information conversion device further comprises:
 a second receiving unit for receiving the second mode information transmitted from the image forming device when a state which cannot carry out a user request regarding the second mode information in the respective image forming devices occurs; 
 a second mode information converting unit for converting the second mode information to the first mode information by reading the first mode information related to the second mode information on the registering unit when the second mode information is received; and 
 a second transmitting unit for transmitting the first mode information acquired by conversion of the second mode information to the terminal. 
 
   
   
     11. The image forming system according to  claim 8 , wherein the mode information conversion device is constituted as a part of any one of the image forming devices. 
   
   
     12. The image forming system according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second mode information comprise information for specifying a sheet type. 
   
   
     13. The image forming system according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second mode information comprise information for specifying a sheet size. 
   
   
     14. The image forming system according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second mode information comprises information for specifying a function setting condition to be used in the respective image forming devices. 
   
   
     15. The image forming system according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one image forming device comprises a scanning unit for creating job data based on an original manuscript and has a function of instructing another image forming device to print out based on the job data created by the scanning unit, and
 the mode information conversion device receives the second mode information from the image forming device comprising the scanning unit, converts the second mode information to second mode information related to common first mode information regarding another image forming device and then, transmits the second mode information to another image forming device when the printout based on the job data created by the scanning unit is instructed. 
 
   
   
     16. A method of converting mode information between a terminal and an image forming device which performs a printing operation based on predetermined job data, the method comprising steps of:
 receiving first mode information transmitted from the terminal, in which a user request to the image forming device is reflected; 
 acquiring second mode information to be peculiarly used in the image forming device; 
 registering the first and second mode information so as to be previously related to each other; 
 converting the first mode information to the second mode information by reading the second mode information related to the first mode information when the first mode information is received; and 
 transmitting the second mode information acquired by conversion of the first mode information to the image forming device which is a print output destination based on the user request. 
 
   
   
     17. A computer program product for use in a mode information conversion device connected to a terminal and an image forming device which performs a printing operation based on predetermined job data such that data can be transmitted and received among them, the computer program product includes codes on a computer readable medium, comprising:
 a code for receiving first mode information transmitted from the terminal, in which a user request to the image forming device is reflected; 
 a code for acquiring second mode information to be peculiarly used in the image forming device; 
 a code for registering the first and second mode information so as to be previously related to each other; 
 a code for converting the first mode information to the second mode information by reading the second mode information related to the first mode information on the mode information registering unit when the first mode information is received; and 
 a code for transmitting the second mode information acquired by conversion of the first mode information to the image forming device which is a print output destination based on the user request. 
 
   
   
     18. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for converting mode information in a mode information conversion device connected to a terminal and an image forming device which performs a printing operation based on predetermined job data such that data can be transmitted and received among them, the computer program product includes codes on a computer readable medium, the mode information conversion program including the following steps to be executed by the computer:
 a step for receiving first mode information transmitted from the terminal, in which a user request to the image forming device is reflected; 
 a step for acquiring second mode information to be peculiarly used in the image forming device; 
 a step for registering the first and second mode information so as to be previously related to each other; 
 a step for converting the first mode information to the second mode information by reading the second mode information related to the first mode information on the mode information registering unit when the first mode information is received; and 
 a step for transmitting the second mode information acquired by conversion of the first mode information to the image forming device which is a print output destination based on the user request.